Fontanaarte: Vivere Nel Vetro - House Of Glass

Exhibition at Le Stanze del Vetro, Venice, 4 April - 31 July 2022

Founded in Milan in 1932, FontanaArte has become a legend in the field of glass, thanks in particular to four great artistic directors: Gio Ponti (1932-1933, with continued involvement thereafter), Pietro Chiesa (1933-1948), Max Ingrand (1954-1967) and Gae Aulenti (1979-1996).

Throughout its history, the company has defined the standards of Italian design: the seamless continuity between the classical and ancient past and the technological present; the perfect marriage between art and industry; the superior quality of materials and handiwork; and the elevation of the everyday object into a luxurious art of living.

From the founding of the company by Gio Ponti to the departure of Gae Aulenti, this exhibition catalogue critically examines its various production periods. In addition to chapters devoted to a better understanding of each designer, the book contains a "Glass House" section that evokes a domestic space furnished solely with FontanaArte objects, as well as essays that describe a complex network of relationships expressing the idea of "Vivere nel vetro" (Living in Glass).